Hope Mafaranga

  Illicit alcohol crisis in Uganda: 65% of alcohol is unsafe, unregulated, and deadly. By Hope Mafaranga  A damning new report has exposed the true scale of Uganda’s alcohol crisis, revealing that nearly two-thirds of all alcohol consumed in the country is unsafe, unregulated, and often laced with toxic substances.  The report, titled “Public Health Implications of the Harmful Consumption of Illicit Alcohol in Uganda,” was jointly released by the Coalition Against Illicit Alcohol Uganda (CAIA-UG) and the Arrow Empirical Research Institute. Based on extensive fieldwork and laboratory analyses conducted in Kampala City and Arua district, the white paper presents alarming evidence that 65% of alcohol consumed in Uganda is illicit, posing severe health risks and social challenges, especially among the youth and low-income communities. “This is not just a public health emergency. It is a crisis of dignity, a tragedy of wasted potential, and a national wake-up call,” warned Dr....